North Shore Bank's Appleton-Area Branches Plan Santa Visits, Collection For Emergency Shelter Of The Fox Valley

Items for shelter families to be accepted through Dec. 22

BROOKFIELD, Wis. - North Shore Bank today announced that its Northland and Menasha branches will collect donations for the Emergency Shelter of the Fox Valley through Dec. 22. The branches are also planning special visits from Santa.

"The holidays can be a very difficult time for some Fox Valley families, and we wanted to find a fun way for our employees, customers, neighbors and friends to help," said Tricia Cravillion, vice president and district manager for North Shore Bank's Northeast Wisconsin region. "Community involvement is an important part of what we do at North Shore Bank, and we're glad to offer this opportunity for the Fox Valley community to come together and help local families this holiday season."

Santa will visit the Menasha branch, 1500 Appleton Road, from 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5. Santa will make two stops at North Shore Bank's Northland branch, 1100 W. Northland Ave. from 3 to 6p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 and from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. Holiday treats will be served, and visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras and a donation for shelter families.

Items on the shelter's wish list include movie theater gift certificates, Express gas cards, Valley Transit bus passes, telephone cards, grocery store gift cards, Fleet Farm gift cards, ShopKo gift cards, Wal-Mart gift cards, alarm clocks/watches, laundry detergent, baby monitors and batteries, socks and underwear (adult, all sizes), diapers (sizes 3, 4 and 5), bath towels and washcloths, body soap and deodorant, twin size bedding and USB flash drives. New, unwrapped items can be dropped off at either branch during the Santa visits or during regular lobby hours - from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

"We encourage everyone to stop by - either to see Santa or anytime before Dec. 22 - and donate an item or two to help make the holidays brighter for local families in need," Cravillion said.

North Shore Bank, headquartered in Brookfield, was founded in 1923. It has assets of $1.7 billion and 42 offices throughout eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. Current Wisconsin branch locations are in metro Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Appleton, Menasha, the Green Bay area, Burlington, Union Grove and Door County. North Shore Bank also has two Illinois State Bank offices in McHenry County, Ill.